Cash-register.



No, 690,554. Patented Ian. 7, I902.

.F. H: BICKFORDf OASH'IREGIST'E'R.

(Applicatin filed 81, 1900.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK H. BIOKFORD, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE NATIONAL CASHREGISTER COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A COR- PORATION OF NEWJERSEY.

CASH-REGISTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 690,554, dated January'7, 1 902. Application filed March 31, 1900. Serial No 11,155. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK H. BICKFORD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Cash-Registers, of whichI declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description. f a

My invention relates to improvements in cash-registers. Its use is notrestricted to any kind or type of machine; but for purposes ofillustration I have shown itas applied to a cash-register of the typepatented to Oleal and Reinhard on April 13, 1897, No. 580,378.

One object of my invention is to provide against fraudulent operation ofthe machine.

In many cash-registers the crank or other operating means is normallylocked until after a special or department key is pressed. In'some ofsuch machines owing to the difficulty of properly adjusting themechanism it is possible to unlock the crank or other operating meansbefore the special key has been through the cash-register of the classde-.

pressed fully in, so that persons wishing to defraud the machine haveresorted to the practice of pushing the special key almost but not quitei'n-that is, far enough to release the crank-then starting the crank,and by removing the finger from the special key permit it to spring backto normal positio n,wherebythe machine can be operated without leavingany record of the person operating it. Especially is it important toprevent such fraudulent manipulation in machines of the type shown inthe drawings, in which when certain classes of sales-for example,Charge,

. Recd on acct, or Paid out sales-are to be registered the cash ortotalizing counter is arranged to be thrown out of connection with theregistering mechanism.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figure1 represents a central vertical section, partly broken away,

scribed and having my improvement applied thereto; and Fig. 2 representsa detail elevation, partly broken away, showing the operating-crank andthe gearing usually provided for the machine shown in said patent and inFig. 1.

In the drawings the numeral 1 designates the fixed frame of the machine;2, the operating-crank; 3, the special keys; 4, the main rock-shaft, and6 operating-segments fast upon the rock -shaft. \Vhen' the crank isturned, the'power is transmitted, through intermediate gears 25, to therotation-shaft 26, from which in turn motion is transmitted, through thelink 27, to operate the rock-shaft. Under this construction whenever theoperating-crank is turned the operating-segments 6 (of which only one isshown) are rocked downward and then up again. A toothedregistering-segment 28 is journaled upon the rock-shaftd and drives theintermediate gear 29, which in turn drives a small intermediate gear 30,which is journaled upgn the same shaft as the registering-wheels andregistering-gears. To the left-hand side of the smaller intermediategear 30 is riveted or otherwise secured a third gear 31. (Shown inbroken lines.) A complete and detailed description of this part of themachine may be had by reference to the Oleal and Reinhard patent beforereferred to. It is therefore sufficient for present purposes to say thatj ournaled on the sameshaft and side by side with the gear 31 is one ofthe registering gear-wheels. (Not shown.) It is of exactly the same sizeas the gear 31,

and secured to it is one of the registering-v wheels. Journaled upon theupper end of the pivoted vertical lever or frame 32 are idle pinions 33,(only one of which is shown,) which are normally disengaged. When themachine is operated to record a special transactionthat is, when it isoperated in connection with any one of the special keys 3the registeringgear-wheel and the gear 31 remain disengaged in a manner well known inthe art, so that the counting or registering wheels are not moved atall; but in the normal operation of the machine when a cash sale isrecorded after the crank 2 has moved a certain distance from normal eachidle pinion is rocked rearwardly into engagement with both theregistering gear-wheel and the gear 31, thereby connecting the two gearsand bringing it about that movement is transmitted from the seg ments 28to the registering-wheels, as shown in said patent to Oleal andReinhard.

A reciprocating link 31 has a slotted rear end which straddles therotation-shaft 26, upon which is a box-cam 35, in the cam-groove ofwhich travels a stud 36. (Shown in broken lines.) In its lower edge andnear its front end the reciprocating link has a vertical slot throughwhich normally passes a pin 37, secured to the lower end of the pivotedlever or frame 32. From this construction it will be readily understoodthat the pinion is rocked into engagement with the gears 30 and 31whenever the crank is turned. WVhenever a special transaction is to berecorded, however, means are provided for lifting the front end of thereciprocating lever, so as to disconnect it from the pinion-carryingframe, and thereafter when the crank is turned the pinion will not berocked rearward, and consequently no connection will be establishedbetween the gear 31 and its registering gear-wheel, and although thetoothed segment 28 and the gears 29 and 30 will move as usual theirmovement will not be transmitted to the registering-wheels, as will bereadily understood. When a special transaction is to be recorded, theregistering gears and wheels are thrown out or prevented from beingbrought into connection with the intermediate gears 30 by means of theupwardly and forwardly extending throw-out lever 17, which is fast uponthe horizontal rock-shaft 16 in a manner to be presently explained.

Only one bank of keys is'shown in the drawings, and of this the sixupper keys are amount or value keys, while the three lower keys are forrecording special or department transactions. Each of the latter isprovided with a laterally-extending stud or pin 7, which is arranged toengage the inclined walls of the angular recesses 9 of the latch-plate10. The latch-plate through its arm 11 is journaled upon the shaft 12,so that whenever a special key is operated, as will be readilyunderstood, the latch-plate will be swung upward and rearward. When onekey is operated, the hooks 13 of said plate are moved under the pins ofthe unoperated keys, and thus lock the latter. Pivoted at its front endto the latch-plate is a link 14, which at its rear end is pivoted to ashort crank-arm 15, fast upon the rock-shaft 16, so that the operationof a special key rocksthe shaft 16 and brings the upper end ofthethrow-out lever 17 against the under side of the reciprocating link 3%,

thereby raising the latter to throw out the registering-wheels, asalready described. A spring 21 connects the throw-out lever with theframe and tends normally to pull the throw-out lever to its normalposition, as shown in Fig. 1. There is 'also fixed upon the rock-shaft16 a locking-arm 19, (shown in broken lines,) upon the right-hand sideof which is secured a lug 19, having a beveled front face. The lug isnormally just in front of an arc-shaped locking-flange 20, which issecured to the left-hand side of the operatingsegment 6. The lower endof the flange is beveled on its rear side, as shown at 6.

Under the construction just described as one of the special keys isdepressed the locking-lug 19 passes under the lower end of the flange 20and comes to rest with its beveled face 19 under the beveled end 6 ofsaid flange. While the lug is fastened under the flange the crank cannotbe operated, for the reason that if it were started the lower end of theflange would immediately strike against the locking-lug and the handlecould be moved no farther. The depressing of the special key also swingsthe throw-out lever rearward against the front end of the reciprocatinglink, but not far enough to disengage said link from the pinion-frame32. When now, however, the crank is started after the special key isfully depressed, the operating-segment begins to swing downward and thebeveled face of its flange striking the beveled face 19 of thelocking-lug swings the latter rearwardly behind the flange 20 andholdsit there until the operating-segment returns to its upper position, whenthe spring 21 draws the throw-out lever, and consequently thelatch-plate, forward to normal position. As stated, the initial movementof the crank swings the locking-arm 18 rearward, thereby rocking theshaft 16 and consequently swinging the throw-out lever farther under thereciprocating link 3-1, and thereby entirely disengaging the latter fromthe pinion-frame 32. It results from this construction that the crank oroperating member cannot be started until the special key is fullydepressed, and when so depressed it is caught and held by its owndetent, (not shown;) but it is also held within the angular slot 9 ofthe latchplate, because the latter is locked and held in its rearmostposition whenever the lug 19 is held behind the locking-flange 20. Theoper ation of throwing out the registering-wheels under thisconstruction is not dependent upon the force which may be applied to thespecial key operated,as the key simply sets the throwout lever inposition and the initial operation of the crank then performs the work.

It will be readily understood that my inventionis equally adapted forapplication to machines of other types than that shown in the drawings.For example, in those Inachines in which each bank of keys is replacedby an index or lever which is moved to different positions according tothe transaction or amount to be registered such lever may be arrangedwhen in certain positions toset the throw-out lever 17, and then theactuation of the operating mechanism will complete the throw-outoperation, as in the particular embodiment of my invention hereindescribed.

Havingthus described my invention, I

be thrown into position to lock the operating mechanism during the timethe operated key is movingfrom normal to its final operated position.

2.. In a cash register, the combination with an operating mechanism, ofa special key, a counter-throw-out' mechanism, means operated by the keyfor setting said throw-out mechanism for operation in connection withthe operating mechanism and devices connected to the operating mechanismfor mov= ing the said setting means to lock the operated key. I

3. In a cash-register, the combination with a series of keys, ofaregister-operating means, mechanism controlled by the keysfor lockingthe operating means after theinitial movement of a key and until a keyis fully operated, and actuated by the operating means to lock theoperated key.-

4. In a cash-register, the combination with a series of keys, of aregister-operating means carryinga locking projection, a movable mem=ber operated by the keys and carrying a looking projection whichcooperates with the firstmentioned projection to lock the operatingmeans until a key is fully operated, and is operated by saidfirst-mentioned projection to lock the keys.

5. In a cash-register, the combination with a series of keys havingprojecting pins, of a plate having notches cooperating with said pins, amovable member carrying a lockingflange and a pivoted lever connected tosaid plate and having a locking-lug which coop crates with said flangewhereby the plate is moved to lock the keys.

6. In a cash-register, the combination with a series of keys, of a platecommon to said keys, a movable member carrying abeveled flange and alocking-block operated by said plate and cooperating with said flange soas to be operated by the same.

7. In a cash-register, the combination with a series of keys, of anoperating means having a beveled flange, devices set by the keys to beoperated by said flange to lock the keys, and a register-controllingdevice actuated by said devices.

8. In a cash-register, the combination with a series of keys, of anoperating means having a beveled flange, a plate common to and operatedby the keys, and devices connected to said plate and arranged tocooperate with the flange and be actuated therebyto move said plate andthereby lock the keys.

9. In a cash-register, the combination with aseries of keys, of anoperating means, a plate common 7 to the keys and connections arrangedto be set by the plate so as to be actuated by the operating device andwhen so actuated to move the plate to lock thekeys.

10. In a cash-register, the combination with a series of keys, of anoperating means carrying a beveled flange, a plate commonto the keys.and connections arranged to be set by the plate so as to be actuated bythe flange and when so actuated to move the plate to lock the keys.

11. In a cash-regis ter, the combination with a series of keys, of anopcratingmeans provided with a beveled flange, a register and throw-outdevices, a rock-shaft carryinga 1ever for operating the throwing-outdevices and a lug which cooperates with said flange, and a platecooperating with the keys and connected to said rock-shaft. a

12. In a cash-register, the combination with a series of keys, of,operating means provided with a flange having a bevel-face, a registerand throw-out devices, a rock-shaft moving a lever for operatingthe-throwing-out devices and having an arm provided with a stop-lugwhich is arranged to cooperate with said flange, a plate havingdetent-hooks for said keys and arranged to be operated by the latter andmeans connecting the rock-shaft and plate.

13. In a cash-register, the combination with a series of keys, ofregister-operating means, a movable member operated by the keys to firstlock and then unlock or release the operating devices, and meansactuated by the operating means to impart an additional movement to themovable member and thus cause it to lock the keys.

14. In acash-register, the combination with a series of keys, ofregister-operating means, a movable member operated by the keys to firstlock and then release or unlock the operatin g means and provided withlooking projections for-the keys, and means actuated by the operatingmeans to impart sufficient additional movement to the movable member tocause the locking projections to lock the keys.

15. In a cash-register, the combination with a series of keys, ofregister-operating means, a movable member operated by the keys to firstlock and 'then release the operating means and formed with locking-hooksfor the keys and means actuated by the operating means to impartsufficient additional-movement to the movable member to cause thelocking-hooks to lock the keys during the registerin g operation.

16. In a cash-register, the combination with a series of keys, ofregister-operating means, a movable member adapted when operated by themovement of a key to look all the unoperated keys in the series, meansconnected to said member to first lock and then release the operatingmeans when a key is operated, and means actuated by the operating meansto IIS impart sufficient additional movement to the movable member tocause the latter to lock the operated key.

17 In a cash-register, the combination with a series of keys, of amovable member arranged to be operated by said keys, an operating means,a beveled flange connected to the operating means and a beveled lugconnected to the movable member and arranged to first lock the operatingmeans upon the movement of a key and then to be given an additionalmovement by said flange to lock the operated key during the registeringoperation.

18. In aoash-register, the combination with a series of keys,registering-wheels and an operating mechanism, of aregister throw-outdevice, comprising a rock-frame carrying connecting-pinions, anoperating device for said frame and a lever for throwing the operatingdevice into and out of operative position, means for setting the leverby the operation of a key and means for completely operating the leverupon the movement of the operating mechanism.

19. In a cash-register, the combination with a series of keys, of aregister-operating means, a latch plate or lever arranged to be struckby the keys, a register-operating means, and a locking mechanismarranged to lock the operating means during the movement of the operatedkey, a device arranged to then look the latch plate or lever so as toprevent the operation of any additional key until the movement of theoperating mechanism is completed.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

FRANK H. BICKFORD.

Witnesses:

IRA BERKSTRESSER, CHAs. E. STEFFEY.

